The boys basketball sectional tournaments begin Wednesday for the higher divisions, and some great matchups are on the horizon. Here is how I think the East Valley-centric Division I and II sectionals will shake out (with apologies to the lower divisions, which I didn’t see enough to make an educated guess).
Division I, Section II (at Mesquite)
First round: No. 1 Corona del Sol over No. 8 Dobson; No. 5 Gilbert over No. 4 Buena; No. 6 Red Mountain over No. 3 Ironwood Ridge; No. 2 Basha over No. 7 Hamilton.
Corona shouldn’t …

Desert Vista LB Mike Arredondo had a change of heart last week and will instead attend the University of New Mexico.
More details found here.

It’s the final week of the regular season as all final matches take place Thursday night. With the new division/section alignment, 9 automatic qualifying spots for the state tournament (top 3 in each section based on power points) and seven other at-large bids based on PP, it’s going to be a wild finish with many schools playing 2-3 matches this week, and a lot of really good teams will be left out to dry.
(All records are power point matches only as of Monday afternoon):
Perry vs. Mesquite  (Monday); at Mountain Pointe …

It’s the final week of the regular season as all final matches take place Thursday night. With the new division/section alignment, 9 automatic qualifying spots for the state tournament (top 3 in each section based on power points) and seven other at-large bids based on PP, it’s going to be a wild finish with many schools playing 2-3 matches this week, and a lot of really good teams will be left out to dry.
(All records are power point matches only as of Monday afternoon):
Notre Dame at Cactus Shadows (Monday); vs. …

A day late (and more than a dollar short these days), so apologies for being late with this Week in (Pre-)view of top girls basketball games this week as we hit the stretch run before sectional tournaments.  So without further ado let’s get to some jam-packed schedules……..
(All records are for power point games only through  Monday. All games at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise):
Red Mountain at Hamilton (Tuesday):  It’s the No. 2 Lions (9-4) against No. 4 Hamilton (9-1) in a hecukva “freedom” game matchup. Backcourts will rule the show …

The three-week crush is on everywhere to get one of those 24 playoff spots come February. Appetites were whetted by the terrific Chandler-St. Mary’s matchup last Friday night, but more good stuff is coming quickly.
(All games at 7 p.m.  Records are power point games only as of Monday, Jan. 9).
Xavier at Highland (Monday):  Talk about starting off the week with a bang, the Gators (6-2) and Hawks (6-1) could meet again after this, somewhere along the lines of a state quarterfinals matchup. If you like shooting, defense and fundamentals, this …

Similar to the boys side, the girls schedules are back in-full (and possibly overload) coming down the stretch with only three more weeks of regular season action left, and a lot of schools facing a lot of matches in not-a-lot of days.
(Records are power point matches only as of Monday, Jan. 9).
Gilbert at Highland (Tuesday):  Gilbert-school matchups rarely disappoint, and the high-powered Hawks (5-1) and steady Tigers (4-1) shouldn’t either. Highland won 4-2 in the first meeting on Dec. 21. Given the remaining schedule, Gilbert might have the best chance …

We’re about halfway through the boys basketball season, and here are a few thoughts on what I’ve seen thus far:
* Corona del Sol is the Division I favorite.  Coach Sam Duane has only had every player available in one game this season, but the team has still been very impressive, and is expected to be full strength next week. Arizona State-bound shooting guard Calaen Robinson is the team’s scoring leader and best player, but the supporting cast is very good. Avery Moss is one of the state’s better post players …

Here are the Final Four results from the Dobson Mustang Classic.
The championship matches are Saturday (Dec. 31) at 9 a.m. (girls) and 11 a.m. (boys) at Dobson High School.
Boys Semifinals
Red Mtn 2, Millenium 0
Camelback 4,  Central 1
Girls Semifinals
Red Mtn. 1,   Campo Verde 0
Desert Vista 1  Mesquite 1  (Mesquite wins 4-3 in PK)
Championship matches
Girls:  Red Mtn.  vs. Mesquite (9 a.m.)
Boys:  Red  Mtn. vs. Camelback (11 a.m.)

Not to take away anything from kids/coaches accomplishments, but we’re never ones to get involved or think heavily on national rankings by anyone as it relates to high school sports.
But thanks to a tip I’ll pass these nuggets along anyway.
After winning the Division I football state championship, Desert Vista is No. 11 in the latest rendition of USA Today’s Super 25 rankings of high school football teams nationwide.
Las Vegas Bishop Gorman (the team that beat Chaparral way back in late August in the Barry Sollenberger Classic) finished No. 5.
There’s more.  …